Safety Instructions For Table Saws (continued)
Plan your work
•Use the right tool. Don’t force tool or attachment to do a job it was not designed for.
Inspect your workpiece.
•Make sure there are no nails or for- eign objects in the part of the work- piece to be cut.
•When cutting irregularly shaped workpieces, plan your work so it will not slip and pinch the blade:
-A piece of molding for example, must lie flat or be held by a fixture or jig that will not let it twist, rock or slip while being cut. Use jigs or fix- tures where needed to prevent workpiece from shifting.
•Use a different, better suited type of tool for work that can’t be made sta- ble.
Plan your cut
•To reduce the risk of kickbacks and throwbacks - when a part or all of the workpiece binds on the blade and is thrown violently back toward the front of the saw:
•Never cut Freehand. Always use either a rip fence, miter gauge or fix- ture to position and guide the work, so it won’t twist or bind on the blade
and kick back.
•Make sure there’s no debris between the workpiece and its sup- ports.
•Use extra caution with large, very small or awkward workpieces.
•Use extra supports (tables, saw horses, blocks, etc.) for any work- pieces large enough to tip when not held down to the table top. Never use another person as a substitute for a table extension, or as addi- tional support for a workpiece that is longer or wider than the basic saw table, or to help feed, support or pull the workpiece.
•Never confine the piece being cut off, that is, the piece not against the rip fence, miter gauge or fixture. Never hold it, clamp it, touch it, or use length stops against it. It must be free to move. If confined, it could get wedged against the blade and cause a kickback or throwback.
•Never cut more than one workpiece at a time.
•Never turn your table saw “ON” before clearing everything except the workpiece and related support devices off the table.
Plan Ahead To Protect Your Eyes, Hands, Face and Ears
Dress for safety
•Do not wear loose clothing, gloves, neckties or jewelry (rings, wrist watches). They can get caught and draw you into moving parts.
•Wear nonslip footwear.
•Tie back long hair.
•Roll long sleeves above the elbow.
•Noise levels vary widely. To reduce the risk of possible hearing damage, wear ear plugs or muffs when using
table saw for hours at a time.
•Any power saw can throw foreign objects into the eyes. This can result in permanent eye damage. Always wear safety goggles, not glasses complying with ANSI Z87.1 (or in Canada CSA
6
